Malawi trip

I'm on my way home to my fabulous friends and family and although I will miss everyone here I have most of them on Facebook and I will be continuing to champion COYIDA from the UK.

My last day in Mzimba

It's been difficult and eye opening here. Money is tight funding comes in tranches, sometimes delayed by the sponsors as it the case at the moment.  But unlike the UK these guys just carry on and keep smiling I think there are some lessons to be learnt!
Today we have had a power cut my first but still not good, stopped work for a few hours made me think that if this was the UK I'd have gone mad, but today just carried on and made the tea, Malawi has changed me.

So today I am making sure I have done everything I have promised to do! Coyida now have...

•    Computerised cash book on Excel next steps to implement an accounting package such as sage
•    Petty cash policy
•    A nominal and project code list
•    An admin budget, this is very important as it Is needed to make sure that all salaries and admin costs are covered. Most sponsors/ partners want to put costs towards a new well or toilet but tend to forget that the office costs need covering as well otherwise nothing would get done.
•     Procurement policy and limits of authority
•    Updated and revised the finance manual.

There is plenty more to do but only so much in a couple of weeks. Next steps…

I will be supporting COYIDA moving forward I am going to sponsor Grace in accounts to become qualified ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants).  My company are going to donate to them Sage accounting software I just need someone to come over for a month and train the staff any volunteers. I will provide ongoing support to the team to via email going forward.

But most importantly I am also going to raise money for them as the work they are doing is great!

The work they do is Clean water for villages this pump only cost £250.00 and this is for 250/300 households They also promote children’s rights and schooling.  I need children’ss clothes to send over anyone who can help? Education is only compulsory till 11 years old to fund a child for secondary education only costs £80.00 per term.
Women's rights COYIDA promote the training of local birth attendants and adequate Ante natal care. HIV and AIDS reducing the stigma around the illness and making sure people eat correctly.

Market, Money, Missing home

It hasn't stopped raining in monsoon like fashion and that is enough to get anyone down. Being so far from home is starting to take its toll emotionally... I called my little girl Ella who cried lots.

Made the most of being here as I have promised myself and my family to do - went to the Markets and to Grace's house after work. We have become good pals already and she is loving Lady Gaga and the new Adele album! For dinner my favourite meal of sweet potato was lovingly prepared for me -  and there's nothing like comfort eating to alleviate being homesick.

This week Grace and I have accomplished a great deal. I have set up an administration budget for COYIDA. The challenge that they face is that they get the funding but nobody wants to pay for the administrative work that they do - they just want the money to go to the front line. COYIDA have four bank accounts and we have set up spread sheets to reconcile them all. I have set up a nominal code list and a project list so that everything can be allocated correctly. Finally I have reviewed and amended the finance manual, set up a petty cash procedure and a procurement procedure, all of which will make a big difference to the way things are organised. I am off to the lakes this weekend so have packed my bags and am heading to Nhkata Bay.

COYIDA stands for Community Youth in Development Activities. They registered as an NGO in 2005. Here are some of the key contributions: Water Sanitation, HIV, Nutrition, children’s rights and sexual protection. The Malawi population is 721,000 17% of which is under 5 years of age. Another interesting chat with Grace was about netball - Malawi ranks 5th in the world at Netball and will be at the Olympics. Making lots of friends here and have been invited to Grace's house for lunch which I am really looking forward to.